In a day and age when a growing number of professing Christians are exercising their freedom of
choice to drink, go to the club, wear provocative clothing, and act out on social media, gospel
singer Jonathan McReynolds is urging them to reconsider.
The 27-year-old pleads with believers to think beyond themselves and take into
account how their behaviors impact others who may be watching. That way, their liberty won’t lead
someone else into bondage.
“I don’t know where we got this idea that our actions, clothes, tweets and Periscopes can be right
even when they look all wrong,” wrote the “Pressure” singer on his LifeRoom Talk blog, as he
encouraged readers not to be a stumblingblock, or hindrance to others.
In the latest entry titled “Smarts That Could Kill,” McReynolds uses 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 as his
foundation.
In that passage, the Apostle Paul tells Christians to avoid certain actions—specifically eating meat
offered to idols, even though eating such meat was allowable. This directive was given for the
benefit of believers who were weaker and felt that this action was wrong.
Paul did not want them to be confused and bewildered by seeing another brother or sister in Christ
indulging in what they viewed as a forbidden delicacy.
Paul’s point is this: even if you don’t feel convicted for behaving a certain way, if a specific action
will lead someone else astray, avoid doing it.
That’s selfless Christianity at its best. Yet, it’s a biblical principle that many who are said to be
followers of Jesus don’t embrace. And it’s something the Dove Award-winning musician wants the
Church to get back to.
Though the young singer admits he doesn’t always personally get it right, he’s trying.
“I have made decisions, bold ones, some significant and some minor, that I have been quite sure
about. I could find validation in the Scriptures and I could probably ‘wow’ someone with the
explanation,” explained McReynolds, adding, “But I worry that some of those decisions, while
intellectually justified, may have had a negative affect on my sphere of influence.”
Keeping in mind your ability to influence others, the associate professor at Columbia College in
Chicago said, “Let your pictures be carefully chosen so someone isn’t led back into the bars
because of your one night of ‘holy’ social drinking.”
He also writes, “Let your clothes be modest so that a new convert doesn’t equate the ‘saved and
sexy’ to the ‘saved with sex.’ That is, if you care about anyone but yourself.”
As a witness for Christ, perhaps your life is the only Bible some non-believer may read. The
question to ask yourself is, what will they come away with?
“Don’t be a stumbling block, so puffed up by your own knowledge and salvation, that you cause
others to fall,” wrote McReynolds.
